Talk:Fort William, Scotland

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[edit] Cromwell

I know the article was short and vague, but - correct me if I'm wrong - I thought Cromwell built a small citadel in the Lochaber region, which was about 50 years later superseded by a stone fort built with the more specific aim of controlling the region in mind. --Dweir

Errr, could be. I know Cromwell built a wooden stockade, and I assumed that was "Fort William" too. I'm not familiar with the circumstances with the changeover to the stone structure. -- Paul Drye

Can't find a book on the subject at the moment but the Inverlochy Castle website [1] has Cromwell building his "Citadel" in 1654 and Major-General Hugh Mackay of Scourie raising a fort on the foundations of Cromwell's citadel in 1690. It was rebuilt in stone over the next four years.
There are some excellent plans of Fort William on the National Library of Scotland website [2]. There is also further information in CANMORE on the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland site [3] jmb


[edit] Town Name

Inverlochy was the first name according to The Gazetteer for Scotland [4]--JBellis 20:44, 20 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Fort William as the first town in Britain to be lit by electricity

I have seen the claim that Fort William was the first town in Britain to be lit by electricity (in 1896). But when I do a search on the web there are various towns around the UK all claiming to be the first town in Britain to be lit by electricity. Does anyone know the answer? --jmb 16:59, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

I have come across a reference to Chelmsford having electric street lighting in 1888. I wonder if the above claim should read that Fort William was the first town in Britain lit by HYDRO electricity? --jmb 17:21, 20 July 2006 (UTC)
scottishholidays.net states "One unique fact about Fort William is that it was the first town in Britain to be lit by electricity generated by its own water power scheme." if you look over at http://www.scottishholidays.net/visit/scotland-tour-highlands-fort%20William.html --Aven 01:39, 17 August 2006 (UTC)
That is probably the correct claim, as I wrote. It sometimes gets changed to first town lit by electricity which is not true. I think the power station was at the top of Bank Street where the old Hydro offices/showroom were. But it was knocked down like many other historic buildings in Fort William. --jmb 00:57, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

The source of the hydro-electric scheme was the River Kiachnich in Blarmacfoldach. Water was 'tapped' from the river and the remains of dam and water channel used to feed the generating equipment are still visible today, along with a metal bridge over the river which was used for access purposes.

Have you got a NGR for the position of the dam at Blarmachfoldach? --jmb 18:01, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

Approximately NN 089 701 - water channel is overgrown but on far side of river from Fort William, slightly upstream from old red metal footbridge (bridge in dangerous condition !).

Thanks, I will have a look one day but not in this weather! --jmb 22:47, 30 November 2006 (UTC)
  • Now come across a reference in The Times, Friday, Dec 16, 1881 of Godalming in Surrey being lit by electricity "generated principally from water power" which was switched on the previous night, so it looks as if Fort William cannot even claim to be the first town to have street lighting from hydro-electricity. --jmb 10:26, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Outdoor Capital of the UK

I have no problem with the use of the title Outdoor Capital of the UK for marketing purposes but how can Fort William be the official Outdoor Capital of the United Kingdom. Who gives out this title to make it official? A government department or international body? --jmb 08:45, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Harry Potter Film

Would it be okay to include that scenes from the Harry Potter 5 film in here? sorry... I've been wikipedia-ring for nearl half a year but still don't know so much =$ [[5]] Bitbitz.xx 02:44, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

There is already a mention that Glen Nevis was used in Harry Potter, presumably other locations also have a mention. If nothing there already then perhaps general comment on the main films that used Fort William though all used the town itself as a base, I don't think any have actually filmed in Fort William itself apart from Local Hero which set up a studio in the distillery for use when the weather was bad. --jmb 09:55, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
The Telegraph article cited as a source for this just gives a vague passing reference to "Fort William and the nearby glens", which isn't really enough to justify a mention in this article. The town of Fort William itself is fairly ordinary and unphotogenic, and I very much doubt that any scenes for Harry Potter have been filmed there. Glen Coe, on the other hand, was definitely used as a location for the third film. --Blisco 22:12, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
I've not seen any of the Harry Potter films, being assidiously disinterested in them, but I am pretty sure that the viaduct at Glenfinnan features. It's quite near Fort William. Lianachan 23:34, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
The last(?) film used the area around Steall Waterfall in Glen Nevis. Two(?) of the others did a lot of filming in Glencoe, building a set on the side of one of the hills. As noted the Mallaig steam train was used along with Glenfinnan Viaduct, I think they must have filmed somewhere else at the time because I saw some piles of polystyrene "rock" at the side of the road awaiting collection. Perhaps one of the tunnels was enhanced a little! The IMDB is a good place to look for information on film locations, there are also a number of sites with information on Harry Potter locations though most seem to have the same stuff. --jmb 01:12, 6 December 2006 (UTC)
Last week, I saw a list of (around 200) Scottish locations used in film making over the years. It was online. If I can find it again, I'll provide a link. Lianachan 02:20, 6 December 2006 (UTC)
There are several sites but they all tend to regurgitate the same information. IMDB has the advantage that you can update it with new information. Perhaps someone needs to collate all the information about film locations on Wikipedia? --jmb 07:56, 6 December 2006 (UTC)
No - this was a press release by some Scottish Parliament body connected with either tourism or the film industry, I forget which. IMDB, like here or anywhere else that people can update, is subject to opinion/spread of urban legend/unverified "facts" etc! Lianachan 11:57, 6 December 2006 (UTC)
The Rural Complex near Torlundy was used as a studio for some Harry Potter filming. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.176.93.75 (talk) 21:21, 7 December 2006 (UTC).
  • "The opening sequence for Warner Bros. upcomming 2007 film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was shot in Fort William." (sic)
    • I don't think any filming was done "in" Fort William. As far as I remember they filmed near Fort William, nearest location being Glen Nevis. --jmb 12:20, 10 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Brahan Seer

The last listed prophecy relates to the pulp and paper mill outside Fort William. - Kittybrewster 23:27, 16 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Retail hotspot?

"It is the new retail hotspot in Scotland."

You would not think that from the number of empty shops in the High Street. Isn't the M&S just one of their small town-centre shops, not a proper M&S store that is if it ever appears. A handful of retail chains is hardly a "hotspot". --jmb (talk) 22:15, 19 January 2008 (UTC)